AR-15, M-16 & M-16A1

5.56MM RIFLES

Accessories

.22 Conversion Kits

If you are like most AR-15 owners, there are many days that have gone by when you have thought to yourself "How can I shoot my AR-15 more for less money?" I wish I could spend all day at the range and not have to concern myself with the cost of .223 Rem. I believe it is every AR-15 owner�s wish to have an endless supply of .223 Rem ammunition to put through his or her favorite rifle. But with financial resources they way they are for most of us, this is simply not a realistic possibility.

Reloading your own .223 Rem ammunition is a partial answer to this wish of shooting more for less, but requires a commitment of a substantial amount of time and finances for a reloading machine, dies, powder, brass, bullets, etc. Reloading is fun and relatively economical (compared to shooting factory ammunition), but is definitely not for everyone. I personally enjoy reloading very much at times, but there are other times when I do not want to go to the time and effort of reloading all those rounds. Additionally, shooting hundreds of even reloaded .223 Rem rounds still carries somewhat of a heavy price tag.

Well, if you are an AR-15 owner that has gone through the above-mentioned thought processes, there is a path to AR-15 plinking nirvana. And the path is paved with...you guessed it...ammunition in the form of the ubiquitous and economical .22LR cartridge.

Ciener .22LR Conversion Kit for the AR-15 and M16

A .22LR conversion unit transforms your high-power centerfire AR-15 into a .22 rimfire plinker for a cost of between $125.00 to $225.00. The current crop of conversion units, from a variety of manufacturers, are simple to install and function reliably. As a side note, most of the units do suggest that you utilize high-velocity .22LR cartridges to ensure reliable functioning.

With a conversion kit from one of the three manufacturers listed below, you can plink for hours for a mere $15.00 or so 500 rounds of .22LR ammunition. Shooting a "converted" AR-15 is both fun and economical. It�s a great way to practice with your AR-15 rifle for extended shooting periods without breaking the bank. It�s also a fantastic way to introduce your non-shooting friends to the AR-15 rifle as there is little-to-no recoil whatsoever.

A conversion unit will replace your existing AR-15 bolt-carrier and bolt. The conversion process takes all of about 30 seconds with the AR-15. You simply punch out the rear take down pin, pull back on the charging handle, slip out the bolt carrier and bolt, and slip in the conversion unit. Reassemble the upper and lower, and insert the conversion unit�s magazine loaded with .22LR cartridges. And that�s it! The .22LR rounds will fire through your existing .223 barrel. No further modifications are necessary.

Be aware that each conversion unit manufacturer has essentially its own proprietary magazine design. This means, if at all possible, you should buy a few extra magazines at the time of your conversion unit purchase. In the long run, this will save you a lot of time and aggravation. For the most part, you will not find spare magazines at your local gun shop or show.

The Conversion Units and Vendors

There are currently 3 conversion units available on the market for the AR-15 rifle. They are chambered for .22LR only. What follows is a list of the brands and vendors.